Chapter 2

Five days remained before my departure.

While changing my dressing that morning, Ella Brooks, my best friend and the healer who was taking care of me, noticed me staring at the photo.

She followed my gaze, and the cotton swab in her hand came to a stop. "Kayla doesn't know we chose that name for your pup."

I looked up. "You knew."

We had known each other for ten years.

Back then, I was living in a youth shelter on the outskirts of the city. We both earned scholarships to attend the same high school.

During the winter, we often hid in the city library after school, sharing a sandwich and finishing our homework before leaving.

The day I found out I was with pup, she was the first person I told after Lucien.

She had even copied the name into my pregnancy journal for me.

Ella avoided my gaze. "Everyone was overwhelmed that night. It's only a name. If it bothers you, I can talk to Kayla once she's feeling better."

"It's fine. You don't have to do that." I placed my phone facedown on the bed.

Ella seemed relieved and continued changing my dressing. "I'm glad you can think that way. Going over everything again and again will affect your wolf's recovery."

I didn't tell her that my wolf was there every day.

She simply refused to respond to Lucien's wolf anymore.

Near noon, my parents came to bring me home.

Mom had bought flowers for Kayla and brought me a dark-colored jacket. "You're not ready for strong scents yet, so I didn't get you any flowers."

I accepted the jacket and thanked her.

Dad went on to explain that Kayla would be bringing her pup to the house Lucien and I owned in the suburbs of Grayport to recuperate.

"You have a healer stationed there, and it's close to the Healer's Den. If she goes back to her own place alone, seeing Daniel's things everywhere will only make her feel worse."

Daniel Vance was Lucien's head of security and Kayla's mate.

Four months earlier, Lucien's convoy had been attacked on a highway outside the city. Daniel had taken a silver bullet meant for him.

Before he died, Daniel had asked Lucien to look after Kayla and their unborn pup.

From that day on, every time Kayla felt unwell, taking care of her became Lucien's top priority.

The first time he missed one of my prenatal appointments, he told me Daniel had saved his life.

The second time, he placed a hand on my belly and begged me to understand.

Eventually, I learned to book my own rides on my phone. "I never asked her to live alone," I said. "You and Dad are always both there for her."

Mom froze for a moment. "But her mate is gone."

I lowered my head and looked at my shadow beside the wheelchair. It was little more than a thin outline. "My pup is gone too."

Silence settled over the hallway.

Dad reached out and briefly gripped the wheelchair's handle. "Erin, this isn't about comparing whose pain is greater."

I said nothing more.

When Lucien returned, he found me still sitting in the same spot, and his brows immediately furrowed.

He crouched down to tuck the blanket around my knees before checking with his security team that the car was ready. "Ride with me. I'll take you home."

Kayla emerged from the ward with her pup and called softly to him. "Could you help me secure the pup's car seat to the base? Daniel used to teach me how, but I suddenly can't remember."

Lucien glanced at her. He then turned to face me. "Give me two minutes."

I waited until the warm air from the car's heater turned the backs of my hands reddish.

The person who eventually arrived was his assistant. "Luna, Kayla's pup puked earlier, so the Alpha went with them to get the pup checked out. I'll take you home instead."

I nodded and asked him to place the wooden box next to me.

As the car pulled away from the healer's den, I received a text message from Lucien.

[I'm sorry. I'll definitely have dinner with you tonight.]

I didn't reply. Instead, I opened the travel confirmation form the Werewolf Council had sent me.

His name had originally been listed as my emergency contact.

I deleted it.